9alpha-halo allopregnanes



UnitedjStates Patent 2,922,797 7 sis-HALO ALLOPREGNANES Lewis H. Sarett, Princeton, and Roger E. Beyler, Westfield, N .J assignors to Merck 8: Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Application December '8, 1954 Serial No. 474,037 I 3 Claims. (Cl. 26039-7.4S

wherein R is a keto group or ahydroxy and hydrogen group R is hydrogen, hydroxy, or an ester group and X is a halogen. These compounds have been found to possess cortisone-like activity. Y 1

The 9a-halo-1l-oxygenated-allopregnane compounds are prepared by the hydrogenation of the corresponding 4-pregnene in the presence of a selective hydrogenation catalyst, such as palladium supported on a carbon carrier or Raney nickeL- This reaction may be chemically represented, as follows:

The process is preferably carried out by dissolving or suspending the corresponding 4-pregnene in a suitable solvent, such as ethyl acetate, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, methanol, benzene, acetone, or ethyl ether. The hydrogenation catalyst is then added to the solution or suspension and the mixture agitated while subjecting it to the action of hydrogen. When the conversion is complete, the allopregnane is separated from the reaction mixture by suitable means, such as by filtration from the catalyst followed by distilling the solvent from the filtered reaction mixture, and crystallizing the product from a suitable 2, solvent, or alternatively the product may be isolated by chromatography. r a

The hydrogenation catalyst is preferably used in the range of from about to 150% by weight, based on the weight of the pregnene lesser or greater amounts of catalyst can also be used if desired. The preferred catalysts are palladium supported on charcoal, such as 5% palladium on charcoal, and Raney nickel.

Thereaction may be carried out by using hydrogen at sub-atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressure, but is preferably carried out at atmospheric pressure. The temperature of the reaction may be varied to control the rate of reaction with normal room temperature, 25 to 30 C. being preferred, although lower and higher temperatures can be used.

The starting material is a 9a-halo-4-pregnene-11/3-o1- 3,20-dione, a9a-halo-4-pr'egnene-l1;8,21-dio1-3,2 0-dione, a 9a-halo-4-pregnene-21-ol-3,11,20-trione, or one of their Zl-esters. The halo group can be a fluoro, bromo, chlo-ro or iodo group. The reaction proceeds most favorably with 21-ester derivatives when the 21 ester group contains from one to eight carbon atoms; Typical examples of suitable 21-ester groups are acetate, propionate, formate, butyrate, ben zoate, t-butylacetate, hemisuccinate, and phenylacetate. Examples of typical 9a-halo-11-oxygenated-allopregnane compounds produced according to the invention are: r

9a-fiuoro-allopregnane-21-ol-3,1 1,20-trione 9u-fluoro-allopregnaned 1B,21-diol-3,20-dione 9u-fluoro-allopregnane-l1,8,2l-diol-3,20-dione 21-propionate 9a fluoro-allopregnane-l1fi,21-diol-3,20-dione ZI-butyrate 9afiuoro-allopregnane-l1fi,21diol-3,20-dione 21-'hemisuccinate 3 a o 9a fluoro1allopregnane4 1fl,21.-d-iol-3,2'0-dione 21-t-butylacetate 9u-fiuoroallopregnane-l1;8,21-diol-3,20-dione 21 phenylacetate Z f 9a-fluoro-al1opreg'na-ne41fl,21-diol-3,2'0-dione 21-benz'oate I i 9ot bromo-allopregnane-21-01 3,1 1,210-tridne 9u-chloro-a1lopregnane-21-ol-3,1 1,20-trione 9a-iodo-allopregnane-21-ol-3,1 1,20-trione 9a-bromo-allopregnane-l 1fl,21-diol-3,20-dione 9a-chloro-allopregnane-1 1,3,21-diol-3 ,ZO-dione 9m-iodo-allopregnane-1 1/3,21-diol-3,20-dione 9a-fluoro-allopregnane-2l -ol-3, 1 1-20-trione 2 l-phosphate 9oz fluoro allopregnane 1113,21 diol 3,2 0 dione 21-phosphate' .In some instances it is more expedient to convert 4- preg'enes having a 21-hydroxy group to the corresponding allopregnane and then convert the 2l-hydroxy group to a ZI-ester group thereby giving the allopregnane the physical characteristic of the ester. This conversion can be readily accomplished by reacting the 21-hydroxy allopregname with an acylating agent such as aliphatic acid halides, esters, ketones, or anhydrides, in a suitable solvent medium. Organic bases, as for example, amines such as pyridine and alkyl derivatives thereof, tertiary bases such as dialkyl anilines, quinolines and trialkyl amines, are suitable as mediums for carrying out the reaction. The reaction is preferably carried out by adding the allopregnane to a solution of an aliphatic acid anhydride and an organic base. After the reaction is complete, the ester is conveniently recovered by evaporating the reaction mixture to dryness.

EXAMPLE 2- r 21 -t-butylace'tate of 9a-fluor0-all'opregnayte-1IQZI-diol- I I 3,20-dione V U 1 The product of Example l is converted to its 21-tbutylacetate by treatment with a slight molar excess of t-butylacetyl chloride in pyridine.

EXAMPLE 3 Qa-chloro-allopmgnane-l1,9,2]-dil 3,2Q-dione A 50 mg. sample of 9u-chloro-4-pregnane-11,9,21-diol- 3,20-dione is hydrogenated catalytically in the manner described in Example 1. the same procedure.

EXAMPLE 4 21 -benzoate of 9a-chlor0rall0pregnane-11,8,21-di0l-3,20-

dione V The product of Example 3 is converted to its 211benzoate ester by treatment with a slight excess of benzoyl chloride in pyridine at approximately 0? EXAMPLE 5 ZI-acetate of 9u-br0 m0-al lopregnane-11B,21-di0l-3,20- dione v Following the procedure of Example 1 a 100mg. sample of 9a-bromo-4-pregnene-llfi,2l-diol 3,20-dione 2l-acetate is hydrogenated to produce the corresponding ZI-acetate of 9a-bromo-allopregnane l1fl,2'1-diol-3,20- dione. r EXAMPLE 6 9u-flubr0-alI0pregnane-11p-ol-3,20 dione Following the procedure of Example 1 a 100 mg. sample of 9a-fluoro-4-pregnene-11B-ol-3,20-dione is hydrogenated to produce 9a-fluoro-allopregnane-1 15-01-330- dione. i 7.

EXAMPLE 7 21 -acetate of 9u-fluoro-allopregnane-l113,21dial-3,20-

' dione The product is isolated using The entire mixture is then hydrogenated at approximately 25 C. and atmospheric pressure for about 10 minutes during which time 13 ml..of hydrogen are absorbed. The catalyst is removed by filtration and the filtrate containing the product is concentrated in vacuo. Substantially pure product, 9q-fluoro-allopregnane-115,21-diol- 3,20-dione-21-acetate is obtained by crystallization from ether. Melting point 176-177 C.

EXAMPLE 8 1.0% topical ointment of allopregnane-I1fl,21-diol-3,20- dime-21 -acetate (1) Melt the carbowaxes and with stirring add the i propylene glycol, zinc stearate, the steroid, and water.

(2) Pass the resulting ointment through a roller mill using cold rollers until the ointment is smooth. The resulting ointment is especially suited for dermatologic use.

A suitable 2.5% ointment of the above compound may be prepared by proportionately increasing the amount of steroid and proportionately decreasing the amount of zinc stearate used in the ointment. Other suitable ointments may be prepared by substituting in the above formula one of the 9a-fiuoro steroids described in the preceding examples.

Any departure from the above description which conforms to the present invention is intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. 9u-halo-allopregnane-21-ol-3,11,20-trione.

2. 21-acylate of 9a-halo-allopregnane-2l-ol-3,11,20-trione wherein the acyl radical has the formula and R" is a hydrocarbon group containing less than nine carbon atoms.

3. ZI-acetate of 9a-fiuoro-allopregnane-21-ol-3,11,20-

trione.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,763,671 Fried Sept. 18, 1956 2,852,511 Fried et al Sept. 16, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Natural Products Related to Phenanthrene, Fieser et al., 3rd edition, pages 240, 241 and 4 21 relied on.

Fried: Jour. Am. Chem. Soc., 2273-74 (1953).

Fried: Jour..Am. Chem. Soc., 76, 1455 (1954). 

2. 21-ACYLATE OF 9A-HALO-ALLOPREGNANE-21-OL-3,11,20-TRIONE WHEREIN THE ACYL RADICAL HAS THE FORMULA 